ARTICLES ABOUT HAND SURGERY BY DATE - PAGE 2

SportsDirect Inc. Recap: Mavericks 113, Timberwolves 98 Mavericks 113, Timberwolves 98: Darren Collison had 23 points and nine assists to help host Dallas pick up its third straight victory by downing Minnesota. O.J. Mayo had 20 points and nine assists and Elton Brand added 20 points as the Mavericks shot 59.7 percent from the field while beating the Timberwolves for the first time in three meetings this season. J.J. Barea scored 21 points and Nikola Pekovic had 20 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which lost its fourth straight and 10th in the last 14 contests.

(Reuters) - The injury-hit Minnesota Timberwolves were given a welcome boost on Thursday when doctors said forward Kevin Love would not need surgery to repair a broken right hand. The two-time All-Star broke two fingers in his shooting hand while working out on Wednesday and consulted a hand specialist in New York the following day. "The evaluation revealed that surgery will not be required on his hand and confirmed that his expected return will be in 6-8 weeks," the Timberwolves said in a statement.

Due to an unfortunate run-in with a kitchen knife and subsequent hand surgery, this week's column is brought to you exclusively by my right hand. I make my living writing, so the first thing I thought when I opened my eyes and saw my fingers perpendicular to my hand, covered by a cast from fingertips to wrist, was ... HOW WILL I FIX MY HAIR?!?! True, I would eventually panic about the whole one-handed typing issue, but I regret to say that my reactive concern was how this impairment would affect my ability to be my most fabulous self.

MLB Team Report - Baltimore Orioles - INSIDE PITCH Some players are evaluated on what they bring to a team. The tangible, the intangible -- the talking point is always the positive influence they have on their club. For other players, the discussion centers around what could be, what hasn't become yet or what some think may never happen. The analysis of what a player isn't often has to do with expectations. For Nick Markakis, the label of first-round pick has a lot to do with the "what he isn't" analysis, and the six-year, $66 million contract he signed in January 2009 is a factor for heightened expectations.

1B Aubrey Huff started his first game since coming off the DL and being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. He was 0-for-3 with a walk and two flies to the warning track. Manager Bruce Bochy said he'll try to get Huff another start soon. It was his first starting assignment since April 21. RHP Matt Cain, who hadn't been getting run support, gave up four runs in each of his past two starts and won them both. The latest was Tuesday in Milwaukee, where the Giants won 6-4 even though Cain surrendered 11 hits, matching a career high.

Illinois linebacker Trulon Henry was one of three people shot at an off-campus party early Sunday morning after the team's loss to Michigan, a school spokesman confirmed According to a release from the university, Henry was not originally attending the party but was called by a teammate to help encourage other players to leave. A fight broke out and shots were fired into the crowd. He was expected to have surgery Sunday and his injury is not considered life-threatening, but he will miss the remainder of the regular season.

Carlos Boozer made his Bulls debut Dec. 1 against the Magic in a seemingly memorable event, particularly because it came after he had missed 15 games following hand surgery. "I don't remember that one," Boozer said. "Short memory. " Then Boozer winked. He also could have winced. The Magic destroyed the Bulls 107-78 that night, handing them their worst loss this season and outrebounding them 44-21. Boozer managed just five points and two rebounds in 21 minutes, 34 seconds.

Kurt Thomas reverted to his career-spanning motivation shortly after signing his one-year, free-agent deal with the Bulls on July 26 for his 16th NBA season. "I come in every year expecting to start," Thomas said. So, apparently, Thomas forgot Joakim Noah was on the roster? "Oh, I knew he was," Thomas said. "But that's what my mindset is. That's how I go into my offseason. I have to consider myself a starter. " Thanks to Thomas' matter-of-fact — not malicious — mindset, the reliable veteran currently is as Noah recovers from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb.